2008 3.7 Mazda CX-9 water pump leak?
Looking for some insight on this vehicle that lost its coolant and overheated. It has a timing chain driven water pump and when I filled the coolant to inspect for leaks, I found that it was pouring out of the block behind the alternator. The area of the block is what is in question, It appears to be a weep hole for the pump and also looks like it has a freeze plug along with it. The two together resemble the shape of a combination lock. My thought is that it just needs a water pump but I want to make sure there isn't something i'm missing with the blockplug/weep hole. Thanks in advance.
The water pump has failed and it is driven by the timing chain
agreed with Albin Moore. Need to drop motor out the bottom to do timing chain and pump. very common and replace everything in there.
That water pump is driven by the timing chain. The front engine cover must be removed to get to the pump. When you read the service information on that job, the first like is, "remove the engine from the vehicle". If this is an all wheel drive vehicle, getting that engine out is a lot of work, but the job can be done without pulling the engine. You can remove both axles, unhook the engine mounts…
youtu.be/R3-NOGZL8ms
I’m sorry Alvin, I replied to you instead of the original postef.
...+1 on that Albin. ...Dan H. ...South Texas...
If you do the job there are special tools to hold the camshafts in place. Makes the job a little easier and when cleaning the surface of the engine where the timing cover is secured to take care not to get any old silicone in the engine.
Awesome, thanks for all the replies, that video showed me exactly what I was curious about with the weep hole. Thanks
You did not mention mileage, ( that I saw anyway) depending on degree and cycles of overheating and if you find yourself contemplating pulling engine-you may want to consider replacing engine rather than finding out has head or head gasket issues that you could not confirm with it leaking. Protect yourself up front regardless of which way you decide to proceed.